Pneumatic suction-cleaner.



D. D. GRIFFITHS. PNE-UMA'TIG SUCTION CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17. 1909. l

' Patented Jul-y 5, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

feg i Kaw, ,SME-9W D.A D; GRIFPITHS. PNEUMATIG SUGTIO CLEER. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 17. 1909.

963,139. A Patented .my 5,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.l

UNITED STATES PATENT our DANIEL D. GRIFFITI-IS, 0F NEW MADRID, MISSOURI.

PNEUMATIC SUCTION-CLEANER.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL D. GRIFFITHS, a citizen ofthe United States of America, and a resident of New Madrid, county of New Madrid, State of Missouri, havein- 'vented certain new and useful Improveto provide an improved cleaner which is' adapted to separate a very large proportion of the dust and dirt from the air current beforethe current reaches the dust filter and thereby not only add greatly to the eliiciency of the device but also greatly reduce the as a whole.

labor required to operate and care for the cleaner; and to provide an improved general arrangement of the main parts of the device A specific construction for accomplishing these objects is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a pneumatic suction cleaner embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the dustv receptacle, partly in section and partly broken. Fig. 3 1s an enlarged fragmentary section of the filter. Fig. 4 is an enlarged' sectional detail of one of the pipe couplin s. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail o the relief valve for the pump. v

In the construction shown, the casing 1 for the operating mechanism, isf-mounted upon caster wheels 2 to facilitate its being moved about. The casing 1 is made -of sheet metal or wood and -mounted therein o n the bottom of the Icasing is the electric motor 3. l Mountedion a suitable base or foundation 4 -in the casing is the rotary air pump 5, which lis driven by intermeshing gears 6 andl Ton the motor shaft and pump shaft respectively. The pump base 4. ele-4 vates the pumpa sufficient distance to bring `--murnmrnannular seat'8 is provided on the top. of the casing and seated in said seat is the. dust vreceptacle 9 which is cylindrical Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'July 5, 1910.

Application filed May 17, 1909. Serial No. 496,524.

and is open at its top. The seat 8 prevents the receptacle from'falling from the casmg but permits it to be readily lifted from the casing when it is desired to remove the dust from the receptacle.

Extending upwardly from the bottom of the receptacle, and in axial alinement therewith, 1S the annular baille wall 10, which terminates at its upper end somewhat below the top -of the receptacle, and is spaced a considerabledistance from the sides of Athe receptacle. v

The receiving pipe 11, which conducts the dirt and dust into the receptacle, extends through one side wall of the receptacle near its bottom, vand throughone side of the balile wall 10, and extends upwardly in and concentric with said ballie wall to approximately the same height. Connected in the outer end vof the pipe 11, by means of a coupling 12, is the flexible collecting hose 13, which may be provided on its free end with any suitable suction tool, not shown, for gathering the dust and dirt. The coupling 12, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, comprises a sleeve 14 having threaded engagement in the outer end of the pipe 1l, andis -provided in its bore with a bushing 15 of any suitable material, and which has an inwardly tapering bore.

Rigidly secured in the adjacent end of the hose 13 is a sleeve 16 which is provided with a conically tapered outer end 17 adapted to extend into the bushing 15 and to be securely held therein by friction.

Arms or posts 18 are secured on the baille wall 10 and eXtend a short distance above said wall.` Supported on the posts 18 is the inverted, cup shape baille wall 1,9 whose annular side walls extend downwardly on the outer side of the balile WallvlO. The bailie wall 19 is concentric with thebalile wall 10 and extends below the top thereof. Extending downwardly from the closed top 20 of the baie wall 19, and concentric with said wall, is the annular baille wall 21, which extends into the-wall 10 and incloses the upper end of the pipe 11. Said battle walls 19, l1() passage 23 between the walls -21 and 10, and y thel downward passage 24 between the walls v l0 and 19 is-of less area than the passage 28 or the upward passa e 25. between the The baille walls 19 and 21 are spaced above `the bottom of the receptacle a sufficient distance' to provide large dust collecting pockets which will not soon become filled so 'as to restrict the passages'for air around the lower edges of thewalls 19 and 21.

Rigidly secured on Ythe inner side of the receptacle 9 and adjacent to its top is the inwardly directed ledge or llange 26. For the purpose of holding the baille Walls 19 and 21 truly centered with respect to the baille wall 10 and the receptacle 9, and to hold them firmly on the posts 18, the top 20 is provided on its upper side with oppositely disposed locking bolts 27. Each bolt is slidably mounted in a pair of apertured lugs 28-29 on the top 20 ofthe baille wall 19 and normally proJects beneath and into close contact with the ledge 26. Each bolt is provided with an offset 30 adjacent to the inner side of the lug 28,which is adapted to engage against the lug and limit the outward movement of the bolt. A coiled spring 31 is carried on each bolt and engages at its ends against the odset and lug 29, respectively, and normally acts to hold the bolt extended beneath the ledge. lThe inner end of each bolt is turned upwardly to provide a handle 32 by means ot' which the bolt may be re tracted frpm beneath the ledge. A pairo parallel guides 33 are secured on the upper side of the top 20, one on each side of the bolts. The guides act to hold said handles in upright position.

y The disk shaped air filter 34 is supported on the ledge 26 and extends entirely across the receptaclel divfidin it into upper and lower chambers.J The lter comprises upper and lower frame members 35, on the inner side of each of which is secured the inturned margin of a wire 4screen Sli-37. The screen fabric 38, and a binding strip 39 of wood or` other suitable material is secured to the inner side of each frame member and firmly lsecures the inturned margins of said screen vand flannel between lthe same and said frame .member, as shown more clearly in Fi 3.l ,Lining the inner face of each sheet of lian- `nel 38 and lying loosely4 within the bindingstrips39 is a layer of thick woolly material 40, and between .the layers 40 is a layer 41 of' like material whose edges project between the,Y frame members 34--35 on all sldes. When-the frames are separated, the

layers-40 and 41,1nay be removed without disturbing-the wire netting or the `sheets ot annel.

A removable cover 42 closes the top of the receptacle. Thecover rests at its margins 43 on the filter and is concaved on its under side to raise its central portion out of contact with the screen and provides the upper chamber of the receptacle. The cover is provided on its margin with radially directcd arms 44 which project over the sides of -able gaskets 59 are vinterposed between the cover, filter and ledge to insure tight joints y.' when the cover is held down by the nuts. The cover 42 is provided with a central outlet aperture or port in which is secured a pipe connection 47, and a hose 48 is secured at one end to the connection 47 and at the other end to the inlet 49 of the pump byl means of pipe couplings 12.

A relief valve 50 is provided in the inlet 49 and serves to adjust the suction to the surface being cleaned. It prevents the suction from becoming so great as to overload the motor or 4injure the screen when the screen has become clogged with dirt. The valve'comprises a valve casing 51 connected in the inlet 49, and provided i'n one side with an opening in which is a sleeve`52'having a valveseat 53 on its inne-r end. A valve closureV 54 is adaptedto seat on the valve seat and control the passage through the sleeve, and is provided with an outwardly directed valve stem 55 which is supported in a guide collar 56 in the sleeve 52. A coiled spring 'I 57 is carried on the stem 55and abuts at one `motor is connected with van electric circuit.

The operation `of the pump causes a suction ofair through the hose 48, the receptacle 9 and the collecting hose 13. The air current gathers the dirt` and dust from the surface being cleaned and conveys it through the pipe 11 into the baille wall 21 where itl is caused to turn downwardly into the passage 22.` When the air is traveling downwardly in the passage 22 it has considerable velocity and the dirt conveyed thereby has gained a conslderable momentum.' As the air leaves the passage 22 it enters the enlarged area invclosed bythe baille wall 10 and, as it turns .upwardly through the .passage 23 its velocity hasdecreased. The decrease of velocity of the air reduces its carrying power,.1and

the momentum ofthe heavier particles of dirt causes them to be thrown out of the path of the air current -and fall to the bottom ,of the receptacle. As the air leaves the passage 23 and entersthe restricted downward passage 24 its velocity is again .increased and the dirt gathers momentum, and when the current enters the enlarged area 'between the baille wall l0 andthe sides of` the receptacle 9` its velocity is again decreased and as Uthe air turns upwardly throu h the passage 25 all of the dust partii cles w ich have gained suiicient 'momentum to be thrown out of its path are deposited on the bottom of the receptacle.

passes through the filter 34 and through the pump tothe atmosphere.

By reason ofthe successive increasing of the velocity of the air current in its downward passages and then suddenly decreasing its velocity at the points where it must turn at sharp angles upwardly, the particles of dust which are heavier than air are compelled by their momentum" to leave lthe path of the air current and pass out of its zone of infiuenc'e. The successive changes of the ve-l loclty of the air currentcause all of the dirt and foreign matter which is heavier than air to be deposited on the bottom of the receptacle before 'the air reaches the filter. y As the airy passes through the filter vall of the 'finer and lighter dust particles are filtered out. f

By reason ofthe separation of a large proportion of the dust and dirt before the air reaches the filter, the ilter will not soon become clogged and/'the eihciency of the cleaner isV reat'ly enhanced.

en itis desired to clean the filter the cover 42 andthe screens are first removed..

Then, after the baille walls 19 and 21 are removed by retracting the bolts 27 from beneath the ledge, the dirt may be emptied from the receptacle. Such of the accumulation of dust which cannot be shaken oill from the screen may be removed by inverting the screen and passing the suction tool over it after another screen has been placed in the apparatus and 'the parts reassembled.

with the lower baille wall and said pipe and extending a comparatively short distance The air then 'A ward passages below the to of the lower baie wall, means supporting t e upper bale wall out of contact with the lower baffle wall, an outlet pipe connected in 'the top of the receptacle, and a filter inte osed between said youtlet and 'the baffle wal' s.

2. A pneumatic cleaner comprising a receptacle having an inlet and an outlet, upwardly directed baflie walls in said receptacle, downwardly directed bathe walls in said receptacle voverlappin and alternately arranged with said upwar ly directed baille wallsand removably supported thereon, said upwardly and downwardly directed baiiie walls bein r so disposed that the vdowntween them are of less transverse area than the upward passages, and an air filter in the receptacle abovesaid walls and interposed between said passages and said outlet.

3. A. pneumatic cleaner, comprising a receptacle, a receiving pipe opening upwardly at the axis ofthe receptacle, upwardly and downwardly yopening tubular bailie walls alternately arranged Abetween said pipe and the walls of the receptacle, said baille walls being 'arran ed at varying distancesapart and adapte :to cause an Vair current xrom the pipe to travel inthe upper portion of the receptacle and toward the walls of the receptacle with alternately .increasin and decreasing force, and to leave azone 0% comparative quiet in the bottom of the receptacle, an air outletin the to of the receptacle, and a filter interpose between said outlet and the baille walls.

LA pneumatic suction cleaner comprisnear the top thereof, oppositely disposed upper and. lowerbaflle walls in'. the recep- 115 tacle, means on the lower walls adapted to support the upper walls out of contact there-v with, locking boltson the upperwalls adapted to engage beneath said ledge and secure. said upper walls in place, and an inlet and 512 an outlet for the receptacle. i

6. A pneumatic suction cleaner comprisiing a receptacle, an inwardlyl directed ledge near the top of the receptacle, oppositely disposed upper and lower baille'walls in the receptacle, means on the lower walls adapted to support the upper walls out of contact with the lower walls, spring pressed lookin bolts mounted on the upper walls and a apted to engage beneath said ledge and secure said upper walls in place, and an inlet and an outlet'for said receptacle.

7. vA pneumatic suction cleaner comprising a receptacle, an inwardly directed led e near the top of the rece tacle, o posite y disposed upper and lower llaille walls in the receptacle, means on the lower walls adapted to support the upper walls out of contact with the lower walls, spring pressed locking bolts mounted on the upper walls and adapted to engage beneath said ledge and secure said u per. walls in place, a filter sup orted on sai ledge, means for securing said) filter in place and an inlet and receptac e.

8. A pneumatic suction cleaner compris- 'ing a receptacle, o positely disposed sets of baille walls in sai receptacle, means supf porting one of 'said sets on the other set and out of Contact with the walls o'f said other set, means removably securing said one set 1n the receptacle, an inwardly directed ledge extending around the walls of said recepvtacle above said baille walls, a iilter supneath said ledge and secure said upper setof walls in place, a pair of screens supported on said ledge, a layer of woolly filtering material interposed between said screens, .a cover adapted to rest at its edges on said screens and afford a chamber above the screens, means ada ted to force the cover into engagement with the screens so as to provide a tight joint between the screens and ledge, an inlet and an outlet pipe for said .10. A pneumaticy cleaner, comprising a receptacle havin an inwardly directed ledge near its top, ater supported on said ledge, a cover providing a chamber above the filter, means adapted to clamp the cover and filter in vplace, an outlet pipe connected in said l i cover, an inlet pipe opening axially of the v receptacle and in close proximity to the lter, and means in the receptacle adapted to direct, an air current from the inlet pipe alternately downwardlyl and upwardly 1n the up. er portion of the rece tacle an toward t e walls of the receptac e before passing through .the filter, there being ldust pockets in the lower portion of the'recep- Antalgnd out of the course of the air currents.

11. In a pneumatic cleaner the combinaan outlet for said.

wardly disposed passage, and eac ltion with areceptacle havin an inwardly directed ledge near its top, o an inlet pipe, a lower baille Wall surrounding said pipe,

upper baille walls alternately 'arranged with said pipe and lower baille wall and closed at their tops, yposts on the lower baille wall and supporting the upper baille walls, retractable bars on the upper baille walls adapted to project beneath' said ledge and secure the upper baille walls in place, a cover su ported on said ledge, and an outlet'in said cover. v

12. A pneumatic cleaner, comprisin a receptacle, upper and lower concentrica ly arranged baille walls in the rece tacle, interlocking means on the upper ba e walls and the receptacle, a iilter supported in the re-l ceptacle, and aiiording-an air space between the filter and the upper baille walls, a coverabove said filter, and an inlet and outlet in said receptacle and cover respectively.

` 13.4 Iii a pneumatic cleaner, the combinal tion ,with a dust receptacle,'of a iilter dividing said receptacle into upper and lower chambers, the upper chamber being provided with an outlet port and the lower one with an inlet port, opposed baille supports located one above 'the other in said lower chamber, telescoping baffle members carried -by said baille s'up orts', one of said supports and its baille mem rsbeing removable'from the receptacle and one end of each baille member terminating short of the opposed baille support, a passage connecting the inlet port with the inner one of said baille inembers, said baille members being arranged to form a tortuous assage comprising a series of downwardly isposd passages alternating with upwardl disposed .passa es, each upwardly dispose passage' being o greater downdownwardly disposed passage being of less trans-u verse area than the next preceding upwardly disposed passage, and dust collectingv pockets at the llower ends of said passages.

,/14. Ina pneumatic cleaner the combinaf tion ofa dust receptacle and filter extending transverse area than the precedin across the linterior of said receptacle an dividing it into two chambers, one lof said 'chambershaving an air inlet and the other having an -air outlet, for the passage of a dust conveying air cu'rrent through Said receptacle, a system of baille wallsvand dust pockets in the iirst of 'said chambers adapted rent, said filter comprising 'a frame, wire mesh screens secured across opposite facesof said frame, sheets of fabric secured against the inner faces of each of said screens, and a quantity of dust arrestin filter' material interposed between said seets o f abrio.v

15. In a pneumatic cleanerthe combination of a dust receptacle and filter extendin across the interior ofsaid receptacle and Ito separate dust from theconveying air 'curdividing it into two chambers, one of said chambers having an air inlet and the other having an air outlet, for the passage of an air current through said receptacle, ay system of baille walls and dust pockets in the first of said chambers adapted to separate dust from the air current, said filter comrising a main frame including two similar rames each having a wire mesh screen eX- tending across it adjacent to one face and having its other face secured against the corresponding face of the other frame, a mass of dust iltering material interposed between said screens and adapted to'be readily removed by the separation of said frames without disturbing the connection of each frame with its respective screen.

16. In a pneumatic cleaner, the combination of a dust receptacle and filter extendin across the interior of said receptacle an dividing 'it into two chambers, one of said of said chambers adapted to separate dust from the air current, said filter comprising amain frame including two similar subframes secured together face to face, a wire mesh screen secured across each of said subframes adjacent to its outer face, a sheet of fabric extending across each of said frames adjacent to the screen thereof, and a filling of dust arresting ltering material inter- A posed between said sheets of fabric. y

'Signed-atChicago this13th day of May 1909'. 4

DANIEL D. GRIFFITH-s.

Witnesses:

EUGENE A. RUMMLER, Nn'rrm M. PIERCE. 

